The first to wake on the Bebop was Spike. He was up doing some training in the dark main room. Sweat spotted his forehead and shoulders as he swung his arms. His whole body moving in sync. Yet Spike wasn't the only one in the room. There was another in the shadows, watching Spike. He stopped for a moment and looked around. He knew there was someone in the room with him. Both were breathless for what seemed like forever. Then Spike made the first move, starting the attack on the unseen. The shadow fought back still making no sound as of whom it was. The light sound of flesh hitting flesh was the only sound either of the two made. Soon Spike had the upper hand, he somehow grabbed the unseen attackers arm and forced them against one of the wall of the main room. He held them there for a second neither making a sound. Spike held the small arm in his hand a little lighter as he noticed the scent of the unseen. The scent, the same scent that covered his bed. He held Ed in his grasps, he held her arm behind her back as she made no noise or made no attempt to free herself.
"Who are you?" He whispered keeping his mouth a few inches from her ear. Still she kept quiet. "I asked you who you are."
Ed didn't move or say anything. She didn't know how Spike would handle the fact she was watching him. When she felt Spike's chest against her back she wanted to die. Never did she think she'd be that close to him, that's when her heart began to race.
"It's just me Spike."
"So the thing that lives in the shadows is Ed?" He held her arm a bit longer but not as tight.
"Are you going to let me go?"
"Why should I? You were watching me, you fought me when I went after you and I had to ask you twice before I got an answer from you. But I can't hold your arm forever."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been watching you."
"You gave me a good fight so I guess I'll let it go." Spike let Ed go and took a step back. "Time for a shower. See ya later Elisabeth."
"Yeah, later." Ed sat down and smiled. He took it better then she hoped.
"You're up already Ed?" Jet yawned as he entered the room.
"I couldn't sleep. What's for breakfast?"
"Hell if I know. Just make yourself something."
"But I can't cook."
"Sorry. Why don't you go out and get something?"
"By myself?"
"You do it all the time Ed."
"I guess I'll go. See ya later Jet. Tell Alice I say 'Good Bye'." The red head ran off to her room to get changed.
Not more then ten minutes passed before Ed was ready to go. Her hair was up in pigtails and she wore blue jeans, a white sweater and a black duster. She happily made her way to the hatch and out to the dawning Mars. The dawn cast a golden light on everything even making the brown Bebop shine.
"I wonder what Jet would say if I asked him to paint the Bebop silver." She smiled and went on her way to a little diner just down the block.
"How many?" The waitress asked.
"One, window seat please."
"No problem. One second Miss." She walked away and Ed sat down. The diner smelt like baked goods such as cookies and French toast. When Ed looked up the waiter was back.
"Come with me please."
Together the two walked to a small window table. The window view was the busy street and the happy people walking down the block. The waitress put a menu on the table and smiled.
"I'll be back in a few. Call if you need anything."
"I will thank you." She watched the women walk away and noticed the slight out curve in her belly, she was pregnant. Sighing Elisabeth lowered her gaze onto the menu looking over the breakfast foods.
"So do you know what you'd like?"
"Yes, I'd like the French toast with a side of scrambled eggs and a orange juice. May I ask you a personal question?"
"Sure."
"How many months are you?"
"I'm three. And it's a girl."
"I think she'll be cute."
"Thanks. You're food will be up soon."
Ed smiled and nodded. Her eyes went back to the window as she watched everything. There was one thing that caught her eye. A ship doing barrel rolls and a few other stupid tricks. The ship went into a nosedive then pulled up at the last moment.
"That dumb ass is going to get themselves killed." She muttered.
"Here ya go Miss. Enjoy." The waitress left Elisabeth's breakfast on the table in front of her.
"Thanks."
The French toast was extremely good as was everything on her plate. She ate slowly not knowing when the next time she would get such a good meal. The Bebop now had three mouths to feed and that meant less likely that meals would big and more likely that they will be far between.
The quiet buzzing from Elisabeth's vid-phone snapped her out of the daydreams. She reached for it, clipped to her hip.
"Yeah?"
"Ed were are you?" Said Jet from the other end.
"I'm eating, why?"
"Do you want to do something for me?"
"Depends what I have to do."
"I'm sending you out to get a bounty head. It's that guy who's information you hacked. Can you do that? Are you armed?"
"After last time I never leave the Bebop unarmed."
"So I'll see you later. Remember if you need any back up just call. Just don't tell Spike you went out after a bounty without him."
"No problem. Don't wait up for me. I'll see ya later and if I don't come back it was a pleasure."
"You'll come back. Just like Spike."
"See ya Jet."
The girl turned off the phone and paid her bill leaving the mother to be a big tip. The street was as busy as ever. Ed had never seen so many people fill the block in the five years they have lived there.
"Where could I find Jose Allen? If I was a drug dealer where would I go?" She whispered to herself then sighed.
Jose Allen, a drug dealer worth 11 million. From the information Jet was able to drain from the ISSP he was a known drunk and loved to bet on anything. There were only a few places in town that held booze and betting and one of them was the Lone Star Tavern. Walking down the street she removed her hair from her pigtails, running her hands through her short locks.
"Sure would be easier if Spike was here. He'd know how to handle this. But I'm a big girl I've caught bounties before."
Inside the Lone Star Tavern betting was going down on the horse race. Horse number 14, Midnight Wonder was in the lead. Men and women hooted and shouted at the T.V screen as Midnight Wonder won the race.
"Tall, blonde with green eyes. You've seen a picture of him before." She muttered to herself.
"Can I help you Miss?" The bartender smiled.
"When is the next betting session and what is it we are betting on?"
"Next session starts in five minutes and it's a dog race. The stats are on the wall to your right and I take all the bets."
"Is there a minimal amount for betting?"
"Each ticket costs four Woolongs."
"Thanks, I'll be right back."
Elisabeth walked through the crowd of people to the wall that read all the statistics of the dogs. There was one dog that stuck out; one Ed was going to place her bet on. The dog was the least likely to win but his name was "Fluffy."
"Could I get one ticket for dog number 3, Fluffy?" She asked as she walked up to the bar.
"The odds are against him but it's your money." He handed her a small ticket with a smile, taking her four Woolongs. "The race will start anytime now."
"Thanks."
The race started off with dog number 7 was in the lead. That stupid mutt Fluffy stopped at the starting gate to itch.
"You flea BAG!" Elisabeth muttered.
Suddenly out of nowhere dog number 3 came into view. He was running by all the other dogs and past the lead dog. Fluffy was winning! The mutt out ran the other 13 dogs and won the race.
"I won!" She smiled and walked up to the bar.
"Good job, no one seen that one coming. You're winnings are 4,000 Woolongs."
"Great! What's the next betting session?"
"It's the ponies, Midnight Wonder has one the last two races." A blonde man smiled.
"Midnight Wonder you say? Let me see the stats on the other horses."
"Are you going to bet on the horse most likely to loose?" He fallowed her to the wall.
"I bet on whoever has the best name. I'm going to bet 150 on "My funny Valentine".
"I'll do the same. Name's Corbin Wilson."
"Elisabeth Dean, nice to meet you." She looked the man over slowly and smiled. It was Jose Allen.
"No, the pleasure is all mine thank you."
"So what will it be this time?" Again the bartender spoke as the two made their way back to the bar.
"150 on My Funny Valentine."
"Same with me. This girl knows her stuff."
"How can you say that? I betted on one race it could be beginners luck."
"Those amber eyes tell me different."
The ringing of the gates opening made the two turn and watch the T.V, and like Ed said My Funny Valentine won.
"Again you prove the statistics wrong. And now I believe you have 12,000 Woolongs."
"Time to go then. Thanks for a good time." She started towards the door.
"Wait, one more race." Jose pleaded.
"It's getting late and I have things to do."
"How about this, if you stay for this next race and win I'll walk you home."
"Fine."
The two sat at the bar and placed a bet on the ponies, 1,000 on Glam. Like clock work Glam won. This doubled Ed's winnings to 24,000 Woolongs.
"Are you going to walk me home now?" She smiled at the wanted man.
"Sure." He grabbed his jacket and the two walked towards the exit.
Time must have wings because when Ed opened the door it was almost sunset. Jose and Ed walked side by side down the street while they were lost in thought.
"Tell me, are you single?"
"I'm not."
"I didn't think you were. I mean a woman as beautiful as you. Do you mind if I ask his name? I may know him."
"His name is." She blurted out the first name that came to mind. "Spike Spiegel."
"Spike Spiegel huh? Never heard of him, he's a lucky man."
"Thanks." She turned to face him and smiled. "Did you know I can read palms? Would like to know your future?"
"Sure." He turned and smiled back.
She took his hand in hers and studied the lines. Then she looked up at him making eye contact as she snapped a handcuff around his wrist.
"A bounty hunter?"
She nodded and smiled. "Yeah, that I am."
Jose pulled away from the girl and grabbed his gun aiming at Ed. She didn't have the time to clip the other cuff to his other wrist. Just like lightning Elisabeth grabbed her gun, taking aim as well. The two stood looked at each other in the empty deck just a few decks down from the grounded Bebop.
"Tell me girl why you need my bounty."
"I need to eat and to feed my shipmates."
"Not a good answer."
"Who are you?" He whispered keeping his mouth a few inches from her ear. Still she kept quiet. "I asked you who you are."
Ed didn't move or say anything. She didn't know how Spike would handle the fact she was watching him. When she felt Spike's chest against her back she wanted to die. Never did she think she'd be that close to him, that's when her heart began to race.
"It's just me Spike."
"So the thing that lives in the shadows is Ed?" He held her arm a bit longer but not as tight.
"Are you going to let me go?"
"Why should I? You were watching me, you fought me when I went after you and I had to ask you twice before I got an answer from you. But I can't hold your arm forever."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been watching you."
"You gave me a good fight so I guess I'll let it go." Spike let Ed go and took a step back. "Time for a shower. See ya later Elisabeth."
"Yeah, later." Ed sat down and smiled. He took it better then she hoped.
"You're up already Ed?" Jet yawned as he entered the room.
"I couldn't sleep. What's for breakfast?"
"Hell if I know. Just make yourself something."
"But I can't cook."
"Sorry. Why don't you go out and get something?"
"By myself?"
"You do it all the time Ed."
"I guess I'll go. See ya later Jet. Tell Alice I say 'Good Bye'." The red head ran off to her room to get changed.
Not more then ten minutes passed before Ed was ready to go. Her hair was up in pigtails and she wore blue jeans, a white sweater and a black duster. She happily made her way to the hatch and out to the dawning Mars. The dawn cast a golden light on everything even making the brown Bebop shine.
"I wonder what Jet would say if I asked him to paint the Bebop silver." She smiled and went on her way to a little diner just down the block.
"How many?" The waitress asked.
"One, window seat please."
"No problem. One second Miss." She walked away and Ed sat down. The diner smelt like baked goods such as cookies and French toast. When Ed looked up the waiter was back.
"Come with me please."
Together the two walked to a small window table. The window view was the busy street and the happy people walking down the block. The waitress put a menu on the table and smiled.
"I'll be back in a few. Call if you need anything."
"I will thank you." She watched the women walk away and noticed the slight out curve in her belly, she was pregnant. Sighing Elisabeth lowered her gaze onto the menu looking over the breakfast foods.
"So do you know what you'd like?"
"Yes, I'd like the French toast with a side of scrambled eggs and a orange juice. May I ask you a personal question?"
"Sure."
"How many months are you?"
"I'm three. And it's a girl."
"I think she'll be cute."
"Thanks. You're food will be up soon."
Ed smiled and nodded. Her eyes went back to the window as she watched everything. There was one thing that caught her eye. A ship doing barrel rolls and a few other stupid tricks. The ship went into a nosedive then pulled up at the last moment.
"That dumb ass is going to get themselves killed." She muttered.
"Here ya go Miss. Enjoy." The waitress left Elisabeth's breakfast on the table in front of her.
"Thanks."
The French toast was extremely good as was everything on her plate. She ate slowly not knowing when the next time she would get such a good meal. The Bebop now had three mouths to feed and that meant less likely that meals would big and more likely that they will be far between.
The quiet buzzing from Elisabeth's vid-phone snapped her out of the daydreams. She reached for it, clipped to her hip.
"Yeah?"
"Ed were are you?" Said Jet from the other end.
"I'm eating, why?"
"Do you want to do something for me?"
"Depends what I have to do."
"I'm sending you out to get a bounty head. It's that guy who's information you hacked. Can you do that? Are you armed?"
"After last time I never leave the Bebop unarmed."
"So I'll see you later. Remember if you need any back up just call. Just don't tell Spike you went out after a bounty without him."
"No problem. Don't wait up for me. I'll see ya later and if I don't come back it was a pleasure."
"You'll come back. Just like Spike."
"See ya Jet."
The girl turned off the phone and paid her bill leaving the mother to be a big tip. The street was as busy as ever. Ed had never seen so many people fill the block in the five years they have lived there.
"Where could I find Jose Allen? If I was a drug dealer where would I go?" She whispered to herself then sighed.
Jose Allen, a drug dealer worth 11 million. From the information Jet was able to drain from the ISSP he was a known drunk and loved to bet on anything. There were only a few places in town that held booze and betting and one of them was the Lone Star Tavern. Walking down the street she removed her hair from her pigtails, running her hands through her short locks.
"Sure would be easier if Spike was here. He'd know how to handle this. But I'm a big girl I've caught bounties before."
Inside the Lone Star Tavern betting was going down on the horse race. Horse number 14, Midnight Wonder was in the lead. Men and women hooted and shouted at the T.V screen as Midnight Wonder won the race.
"Tall, blonde with green eyes. You've seen a picture of him before." She muttered to herself.
"Can I help you Miss?" The bartender smiled.
"When is the next betting session and what is it we are betting on?"
"Next session starts in five minutes and it's a dog race. The stats are on the wall to your right and I take all the bets."
"Is there a minimal amount for betting?"
"Each ticket costs four Woolongs."
"Thanks, I'll be right back."
Elisabeth walked through the crowd of people to the wall that read all the statistics of the dogs. There was one dog that stuck out; one Ed was going to place her bet on. The dog was the least likely to win but his name was "Fluffy."
"Could I get one ticket for dog number 3, Fluffy?" She asked as she walked up to the bar.
"The odds are against him but it's your money." He handed her a small ticket with a smile, taking her four Woolongs. "The race will start anytime now."
"Thanks."
The race started off with dog number 7 was in the lead. That stupid mutt Fluffy stopped at the starting gate to itch.
"You flea BAG!" Elisabeth muttered.
Suddenly out of nowhere dog number 3 came into view. He was running by all the other dogs and past the lead dog. Fluffy was winning! The mutt out ran the other 13 dogs and won the race.
"I won!" She smiled and walked up to the bar.
"Good job, no one seen that one coming. You're winnings are 4,000 Woolongs."
"Great! What's the next betting session?"
"It's the ponies, Midnight Wonder has one the last two races." A blonde man smiled.
"Midnight Wonder you say? Let me see the stats on the other horses."
"Are you going to bet on the horse most likely to loose?" He fallowed her to the wall.
"I bet on whoever has the best name. I'm going to bet 150 on "My funny Valentine".
"I'll do the same. Name's Corbin Wilson."
"Elisabeth Dean, nice to meet you." She looked the man over slowly and smiled. It was Jose Allen.
"No, the pleasure is all mine thank you."
"So what will it be this time?" Again the bartender spoke as the two made their way back to the bar.
"150 on My Funny Valentine."
"Same with me. This girl knows her stuff."
"How can you say that? I betted on one race it could be beginners luck."
"Those amber eyes tell me different."
The ringing of the gates opening made the two turn and watch the T.V, and like Ed said My Funny Valentine won.
"Again you prove the statistics wrong. And now I believe you have 12,000 Woolongs."
"Time to go then. Thanks for a good time." She started towards the door.
"Wait, one more race." Jose pleaded.
"It's getting late and I have things to do."
"How about this, if you stay for this next race and win I'll walk you home."
"Fine."
The two sat at the bar and placed a bet on the ponies, 1,000 on Glam. Like clock work Glam won. This doubled Ed's winnings to 24,000 Woolongs.
"Are you going to walk me home now?" She smiled at the wanted man.
"Sure." He grabbed his jacket and the two walked towards the exit.
Time must have wings because when Ed opened the door it was almost sunset. Jose and Ed walked side by side down the street while they were lost in thought.
"Tell me, are you single?"
"I'm not."
"I didn't think you were. I mean a woman as beautiful as you. Do you mind if I ask his name? I may know him."
"His name is." She blurted out the first name that came to mind. "Spike Spiegel."
"Spike Spiegel huh? Never heard of him, he's a lucky man."
"Thanks." She turned to face him and smiled. "Did you know I can read palms? Would like to know your future?"
"Sure." He turned and smiled back.
She took his hand in hers and studied the lines. Then she looked up at him making eye contact as she snapped a handcuff around his wrist.
"A bounty hunter?"
She nodded and smiled. "Yeah, that I am."
Jose pulled away from the girl and grabbed his gun aiming at Ed. She didn't have the time to clip the other cuff to his other wrist. Just like lightning Elisabeth grabbed her gun, taking aim as well. The two stood looked at each other in the empty deck just a few decks down from the grounded Bebop.
"Tell me girl why you need my bounty."
"I need to eat and to feed my shipmates."
"Not a good answer."